The month of September brought periods of monsoonal flow and as a result saw several precipitation events across the Oklahoma Panhandle. Guymon recorded 2.77 inches of precipitation (0.98 inch above normal) for the month of September. This September ranked as the 12th warmest and the 24th wettest September for the Oklahoma Panhandle on record. The U.S. Drought Monitor showed a one category improvement for the month with only portions of Texas County remaining in the Extreme (D3) Drought rating. The remainder of the Oklahoma Panhandle falls in the Severe Drought (D2) rating.
The multiple heavy rain events during the month of September continued to provide relief to farmers across the Panhandle as upper zone soils have improved to greater than 100 percent of normal, and deeper soil zones ranging from 50 to 100 percent of normal. The Palmer Drought Severity Index rates the Oklahoma Panhandle at Moderate Drought due to the impact from the long range drought from the past three years. Water watches remain in effect for several public water systems through September while voluntary to mandatory water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through September were estimated near $2 million (D2)/$5 million (D3)/$10 million (D4) a county, and were predominately the result of delayed growth of corn and cotton, marginal supplemental watering, reduction of cattle herd sizes, and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.